by Pete Denk

Colts by Selkirk and Invincible Spirit brought bids of $391,220 (260,000 guineas) to top the second day of Book 2 of the Tattersalls Ltd. October yearling sale on Tuesday at Newmarket.

Tattersalls reported 208 horses as sold from 249 offered for total receipts of $11,093,373 (7,372,500 guineas), an 18.6% increase from the corresponding session last year when 178 horses were sold from 241 offered for 6,218,500 guineas.

Average price increased 1.5% to $53,334 (35,445 guineas), while the median dropped 10.7% to $37,618 (25,000 guineas). Tuesday’s buy-back rate was 16.5%, compared with 26.1% last year.

The first of the co-session toppers to go through the ring was a bay colt by Selkirk out of the Sadler’s Wells mare Eminencia, a daughter of Yorkshire Oaks (Eng-G1) winner My Emma and a half sister to English stakes winner Moments of Joy.

Oxfordshire-based trainer Paul Cole, representing Dubai-based Jim and Fitri Hay, bought the colt from the consignment of Kirsten Rausing's Staffordstown of Ireland. Rausing’s Lanwades Stud stands Selkirk in England.

Ten hips later the price was matched when Angus Gold, racing manager for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Shadwell Estate Co., bought a colt by Invincible Spirit out of the winning With Approval mare Exclusive Approval. Peter Player’s Whatton Manor Stud consigned. Gold signed for 11 horses for $1,948,581 (1,295,000 guineas) on the day.

Wednesday is the third and final session of Book 2. Book 3 is scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

Pete Denk is sales editor for Thoroughbred Times